Flushing valve apparatus



Jan, 24,, 1950 J. M. DRUM FLUSHING VALVE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1947 INVENTOR. JOSEPH M. DRUM ATTORNEY Jan" 24, 195E .J'. M. DRUM 2,495,213

FLUSHING VALVE APPARATUS Filed Dec. 26, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOSEPH M. DRUM ATTORNEY Patented Jan. Z4, 1950 UNHED STATES PATENT OFFICE Fri-penmo VALVE APPARATUS Jensen. mum, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application December 2.6, 1947, Serial No. 793,779

Claims.

'My invention relates to flushing valve apparatus, and more particularly to those of the type employed in the flushing tanks of water closets.

One object of my invention is toprovide means for delaying closing of a flushing valve, so that there will be a sufiicient supply of Water through the flushing pipe to the commode bowl, after a flushing operation, to provide an adequate-pool of water in the bowl after the siphoning operation that occurs during flushing of the bowl, whereby the level of the water in the bowl will be'su'ihcient to provide a water seal.

Another object of my invention is to provide a structure wherein the overflow pipe may conveniently be made unitarily with the flushing valve that is raised to allow escape of water to the commode bowl, with means fo preventing upsurge of water through the pipe, and also preventing noise of suction into the upper end of the pipe.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus, with the flushing valve in its closed position; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the flushing valve raised; Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1; Fig. isho'ws a modification of the'structure'of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 4.

The numeral A shows a portion of a flushing tank for closet bowls, provided with the usual flushing outlet 5. A flushing valve 6 of suitable soft material is provided for controlling flow through the outlet. An overflow pipe 1 serves as a lifting stem for the valve 6, the valve being rigidly clamped thereto by a collar or wire ring 8. The pipe has clamped thereto at desired vertically adjusted positions a collar 9 in the usual form of a coil spring and provided with a shoulder-like portion i ii having a downwardly-extending guide portion i l. When the usual lifting lever i2 is rocked to effect a flushing operation, a member it carried thereby will engage beneath the shoulder iii to raise the tubular stem 1 and the valve 6, thus allowing Water to rush through the outlet 5.

In order to insure that the valve 6 does not completely close too quickly, and to thereby provide for filling of the bowl to a desired level after it has been siphoned, I provide a device for holding the valve 8 in at least partly raised position for perhaps 10 seconds, or long enough for a, how of water to the outlet to replace water that has been siphoned from the bowl. To this end, a rod M has screw threaded connection with a narrow rib 55 that extends crosswise of the outlet memher 5. This rod always remains stationary, and at its upper end carries a bar [3 into whiclf-a stern IT is threaded. The stem IT has secured thereto a block Ila to which is clamped a suction device that comprises a sleeveportion l8 and a concave dished or cup portion [9. These parts -l8'-i9 may be of rubber or evenof a hard material.

At its lower end, the rod 1! extends through the portion 2! of a suction device 22. The members iii-4S and '2i22 are preferably both of rubber, although one of them can'be 'of'metal. A metal bushing 23 has the member 2! tightly fitted thereto, but loosely surrounds the stem l-l, so'that it can freely move up and down said stem and also allow for how of water through the bushing.

A tube 25 may suitably be of material such as reinforced rubber hose and is tightly clamped around the lower portion of the sleeve or bushing 23. A metal bushing 25 is snugly fitted into the lower end of the tube 25 and a pipe 28 tightly fits within the bushing and may be soldered thereto. The pipe is welded or soldered to a bracket 22 on the clamping ring 8 andits lower end extends into a cup or trough 30 that is formed in the valve 6 and usually contains water.

When the lever 12 is operated to raise" the valve 6 from its seat on the outlet 5, the pipe '28 and the tube 25 together with the bushing 23 and the suction member 2 l-ZZ will be raised into engagement with member [9; This raising movement :bends one or both of the cup members 19 and 22 to approximately a fiat condition at a time when the water level has fallen below them. They will therefore be held in that flattened condition by atmospheric pressure until sufficient water has been drawn up through the small pipe 28 under the suctional force created through downward pull on the cup 22 by the weight of the tube 25 and the valve 5. The downward movement of the valve 6 will be'delayed for the period of time required for sufficient water to be drawn up through the pipe 28 and the sleeve 23 to relieve the suctional force that exists between the cups. This delayed movement allows the water to flow into the :bowl to a depth that its normal level therein will be restored.

A block 32 of truncated conical form is rigidly secured to the rod I4 and serves as a guide for the upper edge of the tubular stem 1 when the stem is raised. The valve disc 33 is loosely carried by the rod i 4 so that when the overflow pipe or stem 1 is raised during flushing operation, the upper edge thereof will engage beneath the valve disc 33. The conica1 member 32 together with the disc 33 resist an up-surge of water at the beginning of a flushing operation, through the pipe 1 such as frequently occurs. This up-surge will sometimes be thrown out beyond the underside of the tank lid. The valve disc has the further function that when the pipe 1 is raised as explained, the disc prevents suctional noise through air being drawn into the upper end of the pipe I after a large part of the water has been discharged from the flushing tank.

The block 32 and a guide plate 34 at the lower end of the overflow pipe I serve as guides to prevent lateral displacement of the pipe I. There is enough clearance between the plate 34 and the rod [4 to permit flow of water through the tube 1 when the tube is seated as in Fig. 1 and the water level rises above the tube.

Vertical movements of the bushing 23 on the stem l1 tends to keep the tube from becoming clogged by sediment. Also, the suctional pressure and force exerted through the pressing together and separation of the cups l9 and 22 creates forces tending to keep the small tube 28 from becoming clogged.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, I show a delaying device for the flushing valve, that can be applied to standard types of flushing tanks wherein the overflow pipes are set to one side of the flushing valve. In this structure, the flushing outlet 36 has a flushing valve 3! of any suitable form cooperating therewith. The flushing valve is raised in the usual manner, by a lever 38 and a lifting stem 39. A tubular member 4| loosely surrounds the valve stem 39 so that water can drain therethrough as hereafter explained. The tubular member is carried by a bracket arm 42 that is adjustably secured to the overflow pipe 43. The upper end of the member 4| has a cup 44 formed thereon and at the lower end has a cup 45.

A cup 46, preferably of rubber, is secured to the stem 39, and when the valve 31 is raised for a flushing operation, the cup 46 will be compressed against the cup 45. Owing to the presence of water in the cup 44 which is below the normal water level, downward movement of the flushing valve to its seated position will be delayed until sufficient water has flown from the cup 44 to the cup 45 to relieve the suctional force.

It will be understood that at this time, the water level will be somewhat below the edge of the cup 45. This delayed action allows the commode bowl to be filled to its normal level. Upon seating of the valve 37, water will rise in the tank in the usual manner and again fill the cup 44.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for controlling the closing movements of a valve for the flushing outlet in the bottom of a tank, comprising a pair of co-operating suction members, one of which is of cuplike form and of resilient material, means for connecting one of the suction members to a member for lifting the valve for movement therewith, means for mounting the other suction member in position to be engaged by said one suction member when the valve lifting member is raised, the suction member of cup-like form being compressed during said raising movement, a water-receiving receptacle in the tank, below the normal water level therein, having communication through a restricted passageway with the space between the suction members, whereby when the valve is released and moves toward its seat, water will flow from the receptacle to said space, thereby effecting release of the movable suction member, and means movable in the passageway to prevent lodgement of solids therein.

2. A device for controlling the closing movement of a valve for the flushing outlet in the bottom of a tank, comprising an overflow pipe adapted for connection at its lower end to the valve and serving as a valve stem that is adapted to be raised and lowered to effect opening and closing movement of the valve, a stationary vertical rod in the pipe, a bracket extending laterally at the upper end of the rod, a suction cup carried by the bracket, in inverted position, a second bracket connected to and vertically movable with the valve and the pipe, a suction cup carried thereby in position to be moved into cooperative engagement with the inverted cup, one of said cups being of resilient material, a water receptacle carried by the exterior wall of the valve, and a conduit providing communication between said receptacle and the space between the cups, whereby upon release of the said pipe and the flushing valve, water will be drawn through said conduit by the suctional force created between the cups when the stem is released for valveclosing movement.

3. A device for controlling the closing movement of a valve for the flushing outlet in the bottom of a tank that is provided with an overflow pipe, comprising a suction cup having a bracket for connecting it to the overflow pipe, in inverted position, a water receptacle mounted on the upper end of said bracket and having communication with said cup, the receptacle being disposed below the normal water level in the tank, and a second suction cup, connected to the valve and movable upwardly therewith into cooperative engagement with the first-named cup when the valve is raised, the communication between the receptacle and the first-named cup being restricted to such degree that separation of the cups is delayed upon release of the valve for downward movement.

4. A device for controlling the closing movement of a valve for the flushing outlet in the bottom of a tank that is provided with an overflow pipe, and with a valve stem for raising the valve, comprising a suction cup having a bracket for connecting it to the overflow pipe, in inverted position, a water receptacle mounted on the upper end of said bracket and having communication through a passageway with said cup, the valve stem extending through the receptacle, the passageway and the cup, the receptacle being disposed below the normal water level in the tank, and a second suction cup connected to the valve and movable upwardly therewith into cooperative engagement with the first-named cup when the valve is raised, the communication between the receptacle and the first-named cup being restricted to such degree that separation of the cups is delayed upon release of the valve for downward movement.

5. A device for controlling the closing movements of a valve for the flushing outlet in the bottom of a tank, comprising a pair of co-operating suction members, one of which is of cuplike form and of resilient material, means for connecting one of the suction members to a member for lifting the valve for movement therewith, means for mounting the other suction member in position to be engaged by said one suction'member when the valve lifting member is raised, the suction member of cup-like form being compressed during said raising movement,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Madden Sept. 1, 1896 Buick Aug. 8, 1899 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain A. D. May 16, 1907 Australia May 30, 1940 Germany Oct. 7, 1915 

